Yellow-billed Stork

Mycteria ibis

Other Names

    Tantale ibis, Tantale africain   Nimmersat   Tántalo Africano   Tantalusstork, Afrikansk ibisstork   Afrikaanse Nimmerzat   Tantalo africano, Cicogna beccogiallo

World: Africa: widespread S of 15°N also occuring in Madagascar.

Kenya: Most common in the south-western part of the country, mostly absent from the dry, arid North-East. Breeds at Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana.

A common stork seen in Kenya just about anywhere it's wet. Generally prefers larger bodies of water. The adult is a whitish bird with a long yellow bill. The juvenile is greyer with a duller bill. Both adult and juvenile have the bare patch on the face although this is more brightly coloured in the adult. Generally seen in groups, it has developed the technique of stirring up the water or mud with one foot to flush out prey.